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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Housing Benefit suspended:pay rent or do Christmas - can't do both!

380 replies

NoMoneyMona · 18/12/2015 14:00

I had to put in a claim for top up housing benefit as my job contract ended in October. DH works full time but rent is very high (£1200 for a 3 bed) and we have 3 DC.

I have been unable to find another job despite applying for at least 2/3 most days, as many want weekend workers/evenings, and DH works weekends/eves anyway so we would have no childcare.

HB started paying about 3 weeks later and shortly after that they sent a letter asking for more evidence and gave me a month to supply it. Part of the evidence requested was a new child tax credit award showing the new award since I stopped working as amount would increase. I still did not have a new award by the time the month was up (and I forgot to chase them) so I contacted HB the day after the month was up to explain.

They stated, quite correctly I agree, that I should have contacted them within the month they gave so they could give me more time and as I did not contact them, they had suspended my HB and it would 3/4 weeks to reinstate it. The next day, I got the award notice and took it in to them but they insisted that I would be at the back of the 'queue' and they may not get to my claim before Christmas so I may have to wait until January as they close from the 24th Dec to 4th Jan.

That was 3 weeks ago. We have not had any payments since 23rd November. DH got paid today and if we use that for rent next week (and direct debits, normal food), we will not have a penny left. I will have £50 in tax credits to come as well which will not cover many extras. I have not bought anything for DC as I kept putting if off hoping for the claim to be reinstated. When I rang today, they said I would be unlikely to get any money before the 11th January! We have no access to credit.

WWYD? Would I be unreasonable to keep back about half of the rent and pay the rest when the HB restarts which will cover the shortfall?

OP posts:
wafflerinchief · 18/12/2015 14:32

can you contact charities that help with presents for children who's families are on low incomes? My school has been running a drive like this so there should be one in your area - I'd do that if I couldn't get anything and then I'd pay our rent as they need a roof over their heads. Sorry to hear you're in this position.

Original poster
NoMoneyMona · 18/12/2015 14:34

Actually what I am most pissed off about is how long HB take. They literally just have to look the award notice and then press a button to reinstate the claim! They can shut down whilst leaving work unfinished and leave people in shit! AAARRRRRGGGHHHH.

leopardgecko You have made your point twice now. I do not make a habit of deliberately not paying my rent at Christmas. This is the first time we have ever been in this situation. Anyway shouldn't landlords generally have a buffer in place to cover late payments? Maybe you should sell your mum's property to pay for her fees so your tenants aren't paying it for you.

OP posts:
MrsDeVere · 18/12/2015 14:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

leopardgecko · 18/12/2015 14:35

As a mum of 2 DC I can completely understand not wanting to ruin Christmas, and to be honest, if I knew the balance of the rent was going to be available 10 days late, I'd pay a portion of the rent and do a scaled down Christmas.

But is it fair that the landlord' Christmas may have to be scaled down/ruined because of receiving their tenant's rent late? Landlords do have children too. MY children's had to have two scaled down Christmasses because of tenant's not paying their rent in December so THEIR children could have a better Christmas

sylviassecrets · 18/12/2015 14:35

Could you pay £800 off your rent and put £400 for xmas that should more than cover xmas dinner and loads of sensibly priced xmas presents?

ginnybag · 18/12/2015 14:35

Do you really need £600?

I wonder, because you say half, but whilst I don't think you're unreasonable for wanting to do this, I'm not sure it needs to be half.

How old are the 3 DC? £50 per child (ish) and £50 for food and bits should be plenty and would see you paying 80% of the rent, not half. It's a much more reasonable position to ask the landlord to fund, that's all, and honestly, £50 is not much different than my planned-for spend on DD with both of us working. It really doesn't need £100's of pounds to be a good Christmas, especially if you have free time (not working) to go and bargain hunt.

1 large pressie each, a few bits, a shared game to play for you all (if ages make it possible), a new DVD to watch Xmas avo.... It's atmosphere that makes it, not stuff.

Bearbehind · 18/12/2015 14:36

Anyway shouldn't landlords generally have a buffer in place to cover late payments?

No more than tenants should have a buffer to cover unexpected fluctuations in income Hmm

neonshine · 18/12/2015 14:37

Op, I do think half the rent for Christmas is too much.

We are landlords living overseas. This year we will not be able to afford to visit family for Christmas and we have budgeted 100 pounds per child and no gifts to each other. Your landlord Living abroad has no bearing on your problem and 600 pounds for Christmas is not by any means reasonable if you are going to with hold any rent.
Just be as teadonable as you can be and hopefully your landlord will be too.
Good luck

LeaLeander · 18/12/2015 14:37

What ages are your children?

You might put out a request on Freecycle and get some decent toys and such for them free of charge.

Can you do some babysitting or house cleaning or other service this weekend for some extra cash?

Original poster
NoMoneyMona · 18/12/2015 14:37

There is no chance of us being evicted. Landlord cannot give notice until May and cannot evict until we are 8 weeks behind on rent. I am only thinking of paying the shortfall 2 weeks late.

OP posts:
goodnightdarthvader1 · 18/12/2015 14:38

OP, you made the mistake. It's unfair to ask people to accommodate your mistake just because "it's Christmas". You have no idea what the landlord's situation is.

goodnightdarthvader1 · 18/12/2015 14:39

Cross-post. Lucky you, then. Seems like you've already decided so not sure why you're asking.

leopardgecko · 18/12/2015 14:40

Anyway shouldn't landlords generally have a buffer in place to cover late payments?

No, tenants should have a buffer to cover their unexpected fluctuations in income. Hmm

TheWordOfBagheera · 18/12/2015 14:43

Rather than asking the landlord to delay the rent, why not ask for £100 off the rent? But if not, rent must absolutely be the priority. Christmas dinner can be done no more expensively than a normal roast dinner (get a cheap chicken) and can still be festive and loads of fun .

What about getting a board game and film as a present to you all for on the day, and making some IOU voucher type things for the children of the presents that they will get when the money comes in (nothing too extravagent in case finances still aren't great). You tell them how you will take them out to make a day of it, go for cake etc. They may even get a few extras if their gifts are in the sales. That way they can tell friends what they 'got' and not feel left out of disussions about Christmas when back at school.

Dec2015 · 18/12/2015 14:43

Please do not put Xmas ahead of paying the rent. Presumably your LL holds a security deposit and would need to give you references? Worth considering for the future.

I was in a very similar situation a few years ago but remember it as one of my best Xmas's. I won't bore on about the nostalgia of it, but honesty I got some charity shop bits, explained to others that I wouldn't be doing reciprocal gift giving.

I even had to show people around my rented house the day after Boxing Day!

Knobbers.

MrsDeVere · 18/12/2015 14:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GloGirl · 18/12/2015 14:45

How old are your children?

ginnybag · 18/12/2015 14:46

Will you need a reference from her in the summer?

If you play games with her now, she very likely will evict in May - and I don't know how easy it will be for you to find a new place if she gives a bad reference.

I don't disagree that there's a compromise, but you have to explain, and you can't take the mick. Do everything you can first, to minimise the shortfall, and then pay the most of the rent you can.

And think now about how you make that payment if the HB is later still. It's not a great position to be in to rely on a backdated amount you haven't had confirmed. What happens in Jan if it's less than you think/later still/ etc etc....? You need to have a plan for that.

TBH - I wonder whether you wouldn't be better asking your DH employer for an advance. They'll likely be sympathetic if you explain. I have charge of our payroll, and I would be.

Dec2015 · 18/12/2015 14:47

Oh and yes the LL were arseholes about everything. Including security deposit return. It went to bloody tribunal (or whatever) in the end who declared MN style that yes they were being unreasonable!

Don't underestimate how difficult a landlord can make life whether or not you're justified in your actions..

EssentialHummus · 18/12/2015 14:47

What leopard, bear and Vader said. As a landlord I set money aside for repairs and breakdowns, but if I can put contingency plans in place, so can my tenants.

I would never evict someone if they came to me in advance and said sorry, bit short, here's most of the money with the rest to follow on x date. Spend a bit less on Xmas this year and you can do it with minimal stress.

On the other hand, the approach of oh well, can't get evicted anyway would, if you were my tenant, see you handed a s21 pronto. May isn't so far away.

Collared · 18/12/2015 14:47

My parents house was repossessed and it was horrendous. My mortgage is now the first priority to be paid over absolutely anything else as I'd never put my own child in that situation. I think as parents we sometimes put too much pressure on ourselves to make our children happy at Christmas. I may have got good presents as a kid but the memory of my dad crying over our eviction far outweighs that. I know it's easy for me to say but it's just one day & not worth the sleepless nights waiting for your landlady to call wondering where her rent is.

kirinm · 18/12/2015 14:47

You sound like you've already made your mind up. It's a really difficult situation and the thought of your kids missing Christmas must be horrible. Just so you're aware, one of the questions landlords ask on references is whether you've ever paid rent late. You might not get evicted for late payment but don't forget she's responsible for giving you a future reference.

TheFirstNoelHeadbands · 18/12/2015 14:47

Xmas needs to take the hit this year.

Honestly, a cheapy Xmas can be a one off and over with by January, but getting behind on the rent can be a bitch to get out of (even with back pay), screw up your deposit and your reference. It's not worth it.

NotTheSpiceOfLife · 18/12/2015 14:48

I really understand why you want to do this. But after you saying that you know the rent doesn't cover the LL mortgage, I think it would be wrong to go ahead regardless, with no communication.

You can do Xmas for £100, easy. Still have a great time, and know that you're not putting someone else out.

leopardgecko · 18/12/2015 14:49

leopardgecko You have made your point twice now. I do not make a habit of deliberately not paying my rent at Christmas. This is the first time we have ever been in this situation. Anyway shouldn't landlords generally have a buffer in place to cover late payments? Maybe you should sell your mum's property to pay for her fees so your tenants aren't paying it for you.

Yes, I could sell my mum's property. We worked out that if we sold it, it could finance FIVE years of her nursing home fees, and after those five years they then would be paid from benefits as she would no longer have an income. However, keeping the house and renting it out pays her nursing home fees INDEFINATELY and also means she will NEVER have to rely on benefits, or on anyone else, to pay her way.

Is that unacceptable? I rather thought it made financial and moral sense, but perhaps I am wrong.